2006 Nebraska gubernatorial election

← 2002 November 7, 2006 2010 →

Nominee Dave Heineman David Hahn Party Republican Democratic Running mate Rick Sheehy Steve Loschen Popular vote 434,802 144,624 Percentage 73.40% 24.46%

County results Precinct results Heineman:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Hahn:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Tie:     40–50%     50%     No votes

Governor before election Dave Heineman Republican Elected Governor Dave Heineman Republican

The2006 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006; theprimary election was held on May 9, 2006. Republican incumbentDave Heineman was re-elected to a full term, defeating DemocratDavid Hahn.

• Dave Heineman, incumbentGovernor of Nebraska
• Dave Nabity, financial consultant, former Young Republicans state chair
• Tom Osborne, U.S. Congressman, former football coach

The Republican primary election had the unusual situation of an incumbent running against several members of his own party. Originally, the 2006 election would not have had an incumbent. However, this changed whenMike Johanns resigned in January 2005 to becomeUnited States Secretary of Agriculture; this elevatedLieutenant GovernorDave Heineman to the governorship. He then announced his intention to run for election to a full four-year term. The other two candidates for the Republican nomination were formerNebraska Cornhuskers football coachTom Osborne—then serving in theUnited States House of Representatives—and Omaha businessman Dave Nabity.

In 2005, the three Republican candidates raised more than $2 million overall for their campaigns: Osborne $972,000; Heineman $922,000; and Nabity $150,000.

Osborne namedKate Witek, theNebraska State Auditor, as his running mate for the office of lieutenant governor.^[1] She had previously been the running mate of Gene Spence in the1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election. After the Osborne-Witek ticket was unsuccessful in the Republican primaries, Witek switched parties and joined the Democratic party.^[1]

• Glenn R. Boot Jr., truck driver
• David Hahn, attorney and internet development company CEO

The Democratic primary election did not have any candidates until December 2005, whenDavid Hahn announced his candidacy. Glenn Boot Jr. ofAshland was the other Democratic candidate, but he was disqualified due to a previous felony conviction. The election was not a high priority for Nebraska Democrats. While the main reason was focusing on gettingU.S. SenatorBen Nelson reelected, it was very likely that most Democrats didn't want to face the possibility of running against the immensely popular Osborne.

• Barry Richards, farmer

• Mort Sullivan, perennial candidate

• Nebraska United States Senate election, 2006
• U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2006

Official campaign sites (Archived)

• David Hahn
• Dave Heineman

Other election sites

• Politics1: Nebraska

• 2006 Nebraska elections
• Nebraska gubernatorial elections
• 2006 United States gubernatorial elections
• November 2006 in the United States

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